ARTICLES

Traditional leaders have legitimacy on customary norms and values in the community and PYD engaged them because they play an important role in tackling social issues that include gender equality, sexual violence and harmful practices at a sub – national level. Their main function includes maintaining peace and harmony within the rural communities, hence the need to have an interface meeting with the traditional leaders in Muumbe village.

“The state despite demand of request for offer letters has either failed or neglected to provide them with security of tenure.” The ZLHR responded to the notice of eviction.

The destruction of the ECD block in March 2019, is a clear indication of climate related vulnerabilities. In the immediate aftermath of the tropical Cyclone Idai, the damage to the ECD block interrupted children’s education. This posed serious challenges as the Rimbi community is already strained by the current harsh economic environment coupled with a looming drought.

The laying off of workers by Green Fuel despite a government commitment to workers’ justice show a high level of insincerity on the part of both the government and Green Fuel.

As Zimbabwe and the rest of Africa celebrate Africa Day under the theme, “HEALTHY LIFESTYLES PROLONGS LIFE,” at least 3000 villagers in Chipinge District are being served with eviction notices by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement. These villagers are found in Checheche, Masimbe, Kondo, Munyokowere, Mucha, Siyekaye and Ndiyadzo villages. The eviction notices gave them seven days to vacate the land they have been occupying since the early 1990s.

While measures to alleviate poverty among the youth are lauded, the current approach which is restrictive to a single sub – sector is likely to contribute little to the objective of improving the current state of affairs of the rural youth.

For those who have been following Platform for Youth and Community Development (PYCD) advocacy on the state of the Tanganda - Ngundu highway, may understand the effectiveness of that particular campaign by the people of Chipinge. This is a positive indictment on the work of the organization. President Emmerson Mnangagwa officially opened the Tanganda - Ngundu highway on 1 July 2019 that was rehabilitated after concerted efforts from Platform for Youth and Community Development (PYCD) to have the road rehabilitated.

PYCD engaged the responsible youth ministry so that varying risk factors and resilient processes are interrogated from a policy framework. This was meant for the young people to highlight their coping mechanism as they face challenges produced by a deteriorating rural economic base.

The attack on Patrick Chitongo can be disguised as a harmless execution of responsibilities but the impact has been significant. This is an undermining of journalism that seeks to uncover the truth and hold the company to account for its social responsibilities to the community. The company is exhibiting a subtle fear of the community and in response it adopts a mafia style approach to anyone it deems as an undesirable.